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Earth Day was almost called something else entirely

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:53 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – The founders of Earth Day had a clear vision in mind when planning the first national observance. What they didn’t have was a catchy name.The origins of the annual event can be traced back to the late 1960s following a decade of increasing concern for environmental issues that threatened the health and safety of future generations. EarthDay.Org, the nonprofit organization that coordinates Earth Day’s global events, credits Rachel Carson and her 1962 best-selling book “Silent Spring” with drawing widespread attention to some of those issues, particularly the negative impact of pollution and the then-pesticide industry.Carson’s book “represented a watershed moment,” EarthDay.org writes on its official site. But it wasn’t until January 1969 — following the devastating effects of the Santa Barbara oil spill, which dumped well over 3 million gallons of crude oil into the Santa Barbara Channel — that serious action was taken. Do you know these common misconceptions about Ear...

These are America's deadliest national parks: data

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:53 GMT

(NEXSTAR) - Millions of people visit America's national parks each year, exploring the stunning terrain and breathtaking wildlife. Unfortunately, some of those parks can be more dangerous than others. According to the most recent data released by the National Park Service, over 2,000 visitors died in national parks between 2014 and 2021. Despite the proximity to wildlife and overall freedom to traverse sometimes dangerous terrains, the leading cause of death - with the exception of fatalities deemed "undetermined" - was motor vehicle crashes, which accounted for 415 deaths over eight years. Following crashes were drownings (402) and medical-related deaths (385). These airlines have lost, damaged the most luggage: data Alternatively, deaths caused by wildlife or animals were among the rarest - only five were reported between 2014 and 2021. Two of those deaths occurred at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Reserve in 2020. While details about individual deaths in the NPS report...

Tennessee GOP passes bills targeting trans community, risks more than $2B in federal funds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:53 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — In the final hours of the 113th General Assembly, Tennessee Republicans passed two bills that target the transgender community and put the state at risk of losing billions in federal funding.One of the bills would allow teachers and public school employees to not use a student's preferred pronouns, which could violate the U.S. Department of Education's 2022 rules on gender identity, sexuality and sex-based discrimination. The other bill would define the word "sex" in Tennessee Code as, "a person's immutable biological sex as determined by anatomy and genetics existing at the time of birth." According to the fiscal notes provided by the Tennessee General Assembly Fiscal Review Committee, the state could lose more than $2 billion in federal funding this upcoming fiscal year as a result of the bills being in violation of federal requirements."Tennessee's federal awards for education total $1,293,583,239," according to Fiscal Review Committee Executive Director...

The Chef's Garden with Farmer Lee Jones

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:53 GMT

To Farmer Lee Jones, every day is Earth Day. He joins WGN Weekend Morning News via Zoom to share more on regenerative farming.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

How to break up with your lawn and boost your home's resale value

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:53 GMT

(NerdWallet) - From rain gardens to xeriscaping, the environmental benefits of resilient landscaping are well documented. Replacing grass with lawn alternatives can save water, attract pollinators and reduce the need for harsh fertilizers and pesticides.But if you’re eventually planning to sell your home, what will potential buyers think?Thankfully, you don’t have to choose between landscaping that’s good for the environment and resale value. Here’s how to ditch your grass thoughtfully.Do: Consider curb appealFirst impressions matter. More than 90% of Realtors recommend that sellers boost their home’s curb appeal before listing, according to a 2023 joint report from the National Association of Realtors and the National Association of Landscape Professionals.Whether you’re moving now or in the future, landscaping projects remain a surefire way to produce a positive return on investment. Homeowners can recoup the full value of an overall landscape upgrade, according to the report.For ...

Man pleads guilty to April 2019 fatal hit-and-run in Round Rock

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Kyle man was sentenced in Williamson County for failing to stop and render aid in an accident involving death from an April 2019 incident in Round Rock.According to records, Cory Wayne Ferguson was sentenced Feb. 6 to serve 35 years in state prison after pleading guilty to the charge.Records showed Ferguson had a jail credit of 472 days—roughly a year and four months—at the time of his sentencing. PAST COVERAGE: Hit-and-run suspect found as Round Rock Police track his phone’s geo-data According to a past KXAN report, police investigators used geo-data from Google to find Ferguson after the hit-and-run that killed Cleveland Elliott.In May, investigators received a search warrant for Google, which requested geo-data on all mobile devices near the scene at the time of the crash. That pinged just two devices — both belonged to Ferguson, and both were traveling westbound—in the same direction as the car that hit Elliott.

8 arrested, accused of selling balloons with laughing gas, APD says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:53 GMT

Correction: The arrests were made outside ACL Live at Moody Theater.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Eight people were arrested Thursday in downtown Austin after reports of them selling balloons filled with Nitrous Oxide, also known as laughing gas, according to a news release from the Austin Police Department.At approximately 11:40 p.m., APD officers responded to reports of illegal activity near ACL Live at Moody Theater, 310 W. Second St., the release said. Officers found a group of suspects who arrived in two separate vehicles, who were parked at the intersection of Third Street and Lavaca Street and the 300 block of Second St., police said.According to the release, the suspects waited for the venue's customers to exit the show and then approached them to sell balloons with the laughing gas.Although the release said a total of seven people were arrested, there are a total of eight people listed, with only seven mugshots available.KXAN reached out to APD for clarification via email, and we will u...

Stillwater: Historical Society to celebrate 170 years of Warden’s House

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:53 GMT

The house for the warden at the Minnesota Territorial Prison in Stillwater was built in 1853.To mark the occasion of its 170th year, the Washington County Historical Society is holding a free, open house at the site – now known as the Warden’s House Museum – in downtown Stillwater on April 30.The house, located just south of the prison, was home to 13 wardens and their families until 1914, when the prison was moved to Bayport. Deputy Warden Thomas Ross and his family lived at the house for the next 27 years.In 1941, the Washington County Historical Society purchased the home from the state and opened it as a museum.The museum consists of 14 rooms decorated in the late 19th and early 20th century style. Its current exhibition, “Ordering through the Catalog,” highlights household items donated by Washington County residents.“Many of these everyday pieces came from the Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalog,” said Julianne O’Connell, site manager.Founded as a mail-order watch company in the la...

St. Louis Battlehawks will make playoffs in these three scenarios

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:53 GMT

ST. LOUIS - We've made it to the final weekend of the regular season for the XFL. The St. Louis Battlehawks likely won't know their fate for playoffs until Sunday, but they can improve their odds with a Saturday matinee to end the regular season. The Battlehawks are fighting for the second and final playoff spot in the XFL North Division with the Seattle Sea Dragons. Both carry a 6-3 record and Seattle has a stronger chance to determine their own destiny after a head-to-head win last weekend. RELATED - Albert Pujols confident that 2023 Cardinals will overcome slow start The Sea Dragons won't play their regular season finale until late Sunday evening, leading to a bit of a waiting period for the Battlehawks and perhaps some scoreboard watching after their tilt Saturday. There are at least three scenarios in which the Battlehawks would claim playoffs this week, and league tiebreakers would play a part in at least two. Keep an eye out for these situations...STL: Win, Seattle: LossSt...

Colorado snow totals for April 22, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:53 GMT

The following Colorado snow totals have been reported by the National Weather Service for April 22, 2023, as of 10:10 a.m.Alma, CO — 4.5 inches at 7:36 a.m. MDTArapahoe Park, CO — 6 inches at 8:20 a.m. MDTArapahoe Peak, CO — 9 inches at 7:36 a.m. MDTArvada, CO — 3.9 inches at 7:33 a.m. MDTAurora, CO — 4.6 inches at 6 a.m. MDTBailey, CO — 3.5 inches at 7:19 a.m. MDTBerthoud Pass, CO — 9 inches at 7:36 a.m. MDTBerthoud, CO — 1.5 inches at 7 a.m. MDTBeulah, CO — 3 inches at 8:40 a.m. MDTBlue River, CO — 6 inches at 7:36 a.m. MDTRelated ArticlesWeather | Denver weather: How much snow will Denver get from snowstorm hitting city Friday, Saturday? Weather | Colorado’s heavy snowfall toll: CDOT gets $45 million to patch plowing budget, repair roads Weather | Denver weather: Cool and breezy, afternoon clouds expected across sunny blue skies Weather | Cloud seeding catching o...